CHERYL Shepherd envisions having two shade houses in the near future. For that to happen, she is hoping to get the grant she has applied for. In the meantime, she is cultivating some traditional and non-traditional crops such as baby carrots and broccoli.

The 66-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that keeping herself active is a priority and as a country woman, she is no stranger to hard work.

The shade-house project is her dream and she will have one in front of the yard and the other in the backyard, which will be enclosed.

She would try to tend to her crops, flowers, and plants before sunrise and do the same when the sun goes down.

Shepherd added that she is also rearing some layers and would sell the eggs and have some meat birds in the backyard where there are two chicken pens.

The elder stated that the villagers would support her small business by buying the chickens and eggs and whenever she has excess fruits and vegetables, she would sell or give them away to neighbours.

“In this village we are all family and we depend on each other to survive and earn despite some ‘ups and downs’ I am surrounded by relatives who live close by and that’s alright,” Shepherd said.

She related that she is originally from #10 Village, West Coast Berbice, but her husband is a native of Tempie Village. She has been residing there for many years so the place is home.

“I like it here because there is enough land to plant and I came from humble beginnings. My parents were farmers so it is ingrained in me, farming is my way of life,” she said.

Shepherd told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is an organic farmer and doesn’t use any fertilisers and is hoping to expand in her farming of peppers, boulanger, corilla, ochro, pomegranate, five finger, papaya, cherries, pak choy, calaloo, squash, pumpkins, cabbage, celery, fine thyme, basil, tomatoes, among other vegetables and fruits.

The Tempie resident noted that she is also a lover of all plants and flowers and it was evident by the way she displays them in her garden, which takes up her entire front yard.

Some of the plants include blue verine and a wide variety of herbs.

Shepherd’s goal is to expand and with the relevant support, moneywise, she will be successful since she is very familiar with farming.

Vikaue Shepherd
Meanwhile, Vikaue Shepherd is the spouse of Cheryl and he is very supportive of his wife’s endeavours as a farmer and this couple also takes care of grandchildren during the day and still find the time to prepare a hot meal for their children in the afternoons.

The 71-year-old said that he is retired and he would spend his days assisting his wife, who is very fervent about farming.

“My wife does the planting and I would be there to lend support in whatever way I can and it is something to do while, I am at home,” he said.

Together, the Shepherds have six children and 11 grandchildren and they are able-bodied for their age and quite enthusiastic about achieving their goals.

Debra Crawford, wife of the rice farmer
Debra Crawford is a housewife and deals with the accounting aspect of the family-owned business, rice farming, done by her husband, Alfred Crawford, a large-scale rice farmer.

The mother of five is originally from Cotton Tree but relocated to Tempie Village after marriage while her husband is a local of the village.

“I like it here, we have no close neighbours and that is just right and this is a quiet place to live,” she said.

Crawford said their rice and paddy are sold to rice millers and they provide employment for the men in the community.

Her sons are also part of the family business of rice cultivation and the eldest is the mechanic and he was fixing an engine for one of their vehicles when the team visited on Monday last.